Is this a legit way of upgrading a 32-bit Acer OEM Vista?

Since I might be benefiting from a 64-bit OS with regards to video encoding and rendering (aka benefiting from more than just 3gb of my 4gb installed ram, or more) I was thinking of a way to convert my 32-bit Vista Home Premium to a 64-bit one.

I came across this blog (might even belong to someone here on the forums ) and I was wondering if this is a legitimate way to acquire a 64-bit Vista using my own keys.. Anybody? Thanks in advance!

 

As far as I know Acer repeatedly said that you cannot upgrade their OEM system to 64-bit. Or 64-bit to 32-bit. Meaning it is illegal.

On other hand, the described method would not work if SLIC in the Acer BIOS would not allow it...

Personally, I'd just follow the guide and get 64-bit. But that is mainly because I'm a pirate at heart

 

I think you're right about that
After reading the blog I'm pretty sure it does beling to a great forum user.

 

But does that still stand that it could be illegal? After all, some OEMs let you actually upgrade to 64bit, right?

 

According to this site it is legal. You can avoid ordering the alternative media since you can get your x64 Vista off torrents...

There is one way to find out for sure if that is legal. Install via the guide and if you wont have serious looking dudes at your doorstep the next business day then it is all legal Dude, stop wasting time and upgrade to 64-bit. Life is too short to worry about such things!

 

I don't know about it.
But it(Acer) seems the OEM License Key can activate both 64bit and 32bit.
Moreover, the Applications/Driver/Software Disc provided contains both 64bit and 32bit stuffs.
Download and the 64bit OS from somewhere or get it from friends.
Then, you can use your OEM license key to activate the Windows(64bit).
It is workable but I don't know it is illegal. LOL.
But I bought the Vista Ultimate 64bit(license key included) myself. I think it should be legal for me.

 

Yep it is my Blog guilty as charged but technically the License Sticker didn't say 32bit or 64bit so screw Acer and just do it.
WGA does not differentiate between the bits as it is not tied to license key so nothing bad will happen to your install.

 

Agreed. LOL.
As long as it works, it doesn't matter it is legit or non-legit.
Acer won't go to your machine and check it though.

 

Just to add on not everything on my blog is legal.
BIOS mods are NOT.

 

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! LOL.

No kidding. I know an NBR post when I see one. Hehe. I kind of thought it was really someone from Acer Threads since the blog name kinda gives it off. Thumbs up bro! + rep this early!

I might do this method after the sem ends, about a week or two. Is it fine for me to assume that only a LITTLE number of programs are incompatible with 64-bit OS's? Unless I need to reopen another thread, is it also safe to assume that perhaps 8GB RAM (my laptop's max I think) video renders would improve even a little, right?

Whew. I'm excited already! lol

EDIT: Seems I couldn't give more rep to weinter just yet--I think that's with the NiBiTor thingy you've helped me earlier. Promise though, I'll give one as soon as I can lol

EDIT II: And there's no way for now I could smash in 8GB of memory in my laptop without putting in at least half the original price of my lappy lol so I think I would be expecting very little (but still existent I hope) performance improvement from 3GB to 4GB wooh.

 

64bit OS can operate in 32bit Mode so all programs are compatible.
That is the beauty of amd64 extension technology.
But 32bit Programs will not enable high memory usage.
Example the max memory of a photoshop program in 32bit binary will never use be able to use more than 3GB.
To make full use try to install 64bit programs versions when available.

Btw when downloading iso images check the md5 checksum make sure it tallies with the official checksum.

 

@weinter
Blog bookmarked and rep added

 

So when my 32 bit W7 upgrade arrives for my 3810T I can just use the media from one of my full copies of W7 home premium (which contains both 32 and 64bit versions) to do a clean installation of W7 64bit but using the COA from the 32bit upgrade box?

Sounds like a plan!

What happens to the COA for the original Vista OS on my laptop - can I just use it on another machine (activating by phone <cough>)?

 

No if you read carefully OEM activation is by BIOS codes so telephone activation is just to certify that you have a proper license.
By the way OEM license is non transferable.

I will give you the outline of how Vista is activated.
1)BIOS have special Table of big OEM Vendors, Vista will detect presence of such code tables.
2)OEM have *.xrm-rs files which is OEM certificate it is tied to the BIOS code Table
3)Special OEM keys exist to activate the OS according to the corresponding Windows SKU.
1+2+3 = Activation

 

Erm yes I know that but have never had any problems activating XP or Vista over the phone. You just need to tell them it's only being used on that machine and it's OK.

 

Yea because they are giving you the benefit of the doubt that you are following the EULA.
But in reality OEM activation does not require any phone or internet activation.
The RSA code decrypt themselves to activation.

 

Generally I've done it because I've had to replace defective motherboards (some of the old Dell and Medion desktops were notoriously unreliable); offically I believe an OEM COA dies with the machine but to be honest that goes against natural justice so I have no bad feelings about doing that.

Putting it in another machine is a different matter but that's up to the installer to decide - and probably less morally justifiable.

But getting back to the my original point on the topic, I'll definitely be installing my new (bought and paid-for) full copy of Windows 7 64bit home premium and activating it with the COA from my upgrade when it arrives. I'll let you know how I get on!

 

I just need to know what was included in the upgrade kit.
I am already on Windows 7 currently details in my blog.

 

By the way..weinter, following your guide about the 64bit thingy, is there any way to do this and leave the recovery partition (as well as the Acer MBR, Alt + F10 fxn) intact? Because as I see it it seems like all of them will be lost.

 

You can leave it, the MBR will be destroyed BUT the partition will be intact you can revive the partition with PTEEDIT also available on my blog.
Or you can google on how to recover Acer Special MBR but IMO it is pointless since the recovery partition is full of crapware you are better off doing a clean install.
If you want to reconstruct the image you can always use Windows AIK.
Download from Microsoft Site.

 

So for example I have done factory reset disks, and then I do the 64bit change, and then suddenly have the need to revert to 32bit (just to make sure I have a failsafe ) I could use the disks, and when my 32-bit Vista goes back, so does the Alt + F10 function?

 

YES! After you install the Recovery Discs, the Alt+F10 function will appear again due to the Acer MBR has been installed again. If it doesn't, you can try eRecovery Management that is installed right after you install the Recovery Discs and re-install everything again(restore to default factory).
Basically, Recovery Discs should able to recover everything. Unless you have your recovery partition deleted, then, the Alt+F10 will not work.

 

I concur

 

No, it doesn't mean it's illegal. It means that you can't upgrade the 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS, as in you have to do a clean install.

 

You can install 64bit version using 32bit key. I did and works without a problem. I use Orev's guide to recover the key (NBR HP section)